The last swimming event of the Commonwealth Games could sum up what is going to happen for the next five days in Glasgow.

England swept past Australia at the halfway mark and hung on to take the title.

The English spoiled Australia's bid for a cleansweep of the relays when they won the men's 4x100m medley to close the swimming program on Wednesday and set themselves up to top the medals table for the first time since the 1986 Edinburgh Games.

While the success of the swimming and track cycling comes to an end ... it's a great opportunity to focus on some other sports.

Steve Moneghetti

With the Games halfway through, Australia is on 34 gold medals, only one ahead of England, but with their three biggest sports complete.

Swimming, track cycling and shooting accounted for 32 of Australia's gold and 85 of the 101 medals in total.

But they have not provided a big enough buffer, with England likely to dominate gymnastics, boxing and squash and get the better of Australia in athletics in the final five days of competition.

Chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said he is delighted with the way Australia has performed so far, but acknowledges the team will not win as many medals in the next week.

"History would show not, but I don't think anybody does, it's just the nature of the program," Moneghetti said.

"While the success of the swimming and track cycling comes to an end ... it's a great opportunity to focus on some other sports.

Chapman won gold in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol to claim bragging rights over his daughter Hayley who was knocked out in her semi-final.

In winning the men's single trap gold, Vella was also finally able to get one over long-time team-mate and dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond who finished fourth.

"He got the gold and I got the silver in the individual in Manchester 2002 so it's taken me a long time to get on top and win the gold," Vella said.

Australia's feuding squash players took to the court for the start of the doubles on Tuesday, with Ryan Cuskelly reluctantly partnering Matt Karwalski to win their games against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Karwalski replaced Cuskelly's best mate Zac Alexander in the doubles after winning an appeal last week, prompting Alexander to say his friend no longer wanted to take the court.

But Cuskelly joined Karwalski and although they appeared awkward with each other and had little interaction on and off the court, they still recorded two easy wins.

Ribouem looked to have beaten PNG's Steven Kari whose attempt at a 200kg lift was deemed a no lift by the judges.

But the decision was overturned, leaving him emotionally wrecked after his 201kg attempt to win the competition ended in failure.

"He only wins because of the judge and he knows it ... I feel a winner," Ribouem said.

Hosts Scotland break medal tally record

Hosts Scotland broke their record for medals won at a Commonwealth Games when Jen McIntosh won silver in the women's 50m rifle three positions on Tuesday night (AEST).

On Tuesday morning Scotland set a new record for gold medals - the tally of 13 eclipsing 11 from 2006 - and McIntosh pushed the host nation passed the 33 medals won when Scotland last hosted the event in Edinburgh in 1986.

McIntosh's silver took Scotland to 34 medals - matching the pre-Games target with five days of competition still remaining.

Scotland's men's gymnastics team of Frank Baines, Adam Cox, Liam Davie, Dan Keatings and Dan Purvis then swelled the tally to 35 by picking up a silver medal in the team event.